Annual Meeting June 2

St. John’s annual congregational meeting is Sunday, June 2, 2019, immediately after service. We will vote on

  • The proposed budget for 2019-20
  • The proposed Facility Master Plan
  • Two bylaw changes
  • To elect members to the Board for 2019-20.

One of the proposed bylaw changes to be presented at the Annual Meeting is:

  1. To update definition of Quorum for congregational meetings.
    This proposal developed as part of spring 2019 changes to membership bylaws. The proposal allows the quorum required for meetings, to flex according to changes in membership size. Voting-eligible membership will be considered for establishing the quorum. (must have signed the membership book within 60 days of the annual meeting)
    Current definition
    Article VII Sec 3 Quorum
    Fifty-one (51) members shall constitute a quorum at the Annual and all other Congregational Meetings. Members shall sign the register and such signatures shall be checked against the membership rolls. There shall be provision for absentee voting at either the Annual or Special Congregational Meeting as outlined in Article XI, Section 5.
    Proposed definition
    Article VII Sec 3 Quorum
    25% of voting membership shall constitute a quorum at the Annual and all other Congregational Meetings. Members shall sign the register and such signatures shall be checked against the membership rolls. There shall be provision for absentee voting at either the Annual or Special Congregational Meeting as outlined in Article XI Section
    5.

Please plan to attend and help us exercise the right of conscience and use of democratic process at Saint John’s (UUA principle 5!).

Candidate bios are at the end of this article. Click on the named hyperlinks for the budget, details about the Facility Master Plan, and proposed bylaw changes. As a reminder, many other board leaders are returning for another year of service. See the leadership slate.

To request an absentee ballot, please contact the church office.  For additional information or questions, please contact board secretary Monica Pellman, monicap@fuse.net  or 513-245-1925.

Candidate for Program Director, Melissa Rowland

Melissa Rowland has been a member of St John’s for nearly 17 years. She has served in the mission of this church as an RE teacher, Worship Arts committee member, board member- religious development counsel director, worship associate, speaker, and other areas.

Over the years her understanding of what it means to be UU has grown into a deeper understanding of our beloved community.

“I have enjoyed my board experience so far and look forward to serving the church in the coming years.”

Free time is spent loving and caring for the lives that make up her home, 4 cats, 3 dogs, a corn snake and many houseplants.

Candidate for Finance Director, Linda Heath

We have something special here at St. John’s and I want to support the governance that makes this congregation possible. Plus, how we manage our finances and choose to spend our money reflects both our values and aspirations.

I have organized monthly social justice activities, served on the Board of Trustees (Mission Council Director, Board VP and President), worked on committees and teams including: Fund Trustees, Leadership Development, Shared Ministry, Strategic Planning, By-laws, Nominating, Welcome Table and Communications.

Before deciding to run, I attended Board meetings. The women and men on the Board are more than competent. They are smart, informed and thoughtful. They genuinely like working with each other.

I look forward to serving with them and helping this congregation continue to thrive.

Candidate for Board Member at Large – Lorrie Hayes

Lorrie Hayes has been a member at SJUU since 2017 but first began visiting back in 1997. She lives in Symmes Township with wife Rita Volz and daughter Emeline Hayes. Lorrie loves her work as a Realtor with Sibcy Cline, where she is a Vice President of Sales in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Prior to following her entrepreneurial heart, Lorrie enjoyed nearly two decades in social services administration, where her focus was on using analytics to bolster effective advocacy. When she’s not helping people buy and sell houses, Lorrie can be found shuttling Emeline to gymnastics, chaperoning field trips, supporting progressive women in their runs for office, and trying to find the perfectly comfy shoe for wide feet. Her interest in serving on the SJUU Board stems from a lifelong commitment to social justice and responsible collaborative governance — a good habit she attributes to her liberal Presbyterian/Episcopalian upbringing, her master’s degree in Public Policy/Nonprofit Management, and (mostly) her amazing parents, who are both servant leaders and big “can do” people.